Summary
Lithonia Middle School in Lithonia, GA, serves approximately 1,062 students in grades 6–8 within the DeKalb County School District, where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school currently ranks in the bottom 10% of Georgia middle schools (540th out of 578, earning zero stars), a slight dip from the prior year when it ranked 523rd and earned one star. Per-student spending has risen to $17,381, and the student-teacher ratio has improved to 14.7:1, yet academic outcomes remain among the lowest in the area.
Test scores are well below district and state averages across most subjects. For example, 8th-grade math proficiency is 14.1% (compared to 31.3% district and 46.3% state), and 8th-grade social studies proficiency is just 4%—a 36-point gap from the state average of 40.2%. One notable bright spot: English Language Learner (ELL) students rank in the 51st percentile statewide, earning 3 stars, which suggests that targeted supports for this group are working well. However, chronic absenteeism is a major concern, climbing from 27.9% in 2022–2023 to 36.1% in 2025–2026—more than double the state average of 17.7% and the second-highest among nearby DeKalb middle schools.
The contrast with The Champion Middle Theme School, just 7.2 miles away, is striking. Both serve predominantly low-income families, but Champion ranks in the 56th percentile, has 8th-grade math proficiency of 54.9%, and a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.3%—less than one-fifth of Lithonia’s rate. This suggests that attendance and engagement may be powerful levers for improvement. While Lithonia’s math proficiency does improve slightly as students advance (from 6.2% in 6th grade to 14.1% in 8th grade), the overall pattern points to deep-rooted challenges. For parents, the data highlights the importance of prioritizing consistent attendance and exploring schools with stronger track records, such as Champion, if options are available.
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